INTEGRATION OF MINISTRY AND THEOLOGY THS Credit Hours Western Seminary Portland Campus

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1 INTEGRATION OF MINISTRY AND THEOLOGY THS Credit Hours Western Seminary Portland Campus Gerry Breshears Gbreshears@Westernseminary.edu; (503) John Johnson: JJohnson@Westernseminary.edu (503) Syllabus Summer 2014 COURSE SCHEDULE Wednesday, June 18; and Thursdays, June 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24: 6:00pm to 10:00pm REQUIRED TEXT Beck/Blomberg, Two Views on Women in Ministry ISBN: X, Retail Price: $17.99 COURSE DESCRIPTION Building on the exegetical, theological and ministerial foundations laid in the seminary curriculum, students will build an integrative approach to such issues as women in ministry, divorce, bio-ethics, and church discipline. Students will also work toward this integration by finalizing and defending their personal doctrinal statements. (2 hours) COURSE GOALS A. You will learn and apply a method of approaching ministry problems from a biblical and theological perspective. B. You will work through key issues of ministry in class and in a team project to enhance the implementation of your theology into ministry. C. You will integrate your personal theology by reviewing each aspect in light of the whole and finalize your personal doctrinal statement, editing each part of it as we review the various aspects of theology. D. You will gain confidence in your philosophy of ministry and theology by preparing for an oral examination akin to an ordination exam based on your personal ministry manual. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US: Western: (503) ;

2 FAX: (503) Gerry Breshears (503) John Johnson: (503) Appointments: Shanita Gills: (503) ONLINE CLASSROOM This class has an online classroom. To access the site, go to Click on login (on the right above the calendar), use your student number for your username, and the password you ll receive via when you register for the course. The on-line classroom will go live no later than the first Monday of the semester. RESPONSIBILITIES Online Orientation (15 min.) Before the end of the first Friday of the semester, you need to log onto the learning center, download the syllabus for the course, and complete the report indicating that you have read and understand the course requirements. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the online orientation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility. A. Reading Read Two Views on Women in Ministry pp., prior to July 3 B. Integration Work Sheets At the end of this syllabus, there is a handout with some key questions relating to the class discussion. Following the class session, you will be directed as to exactly which questions to write, depending on where the class discussion went. Your answers will typically be two good paragraphs per question. The first paragraph will integrate the biblical and theological aspects of your position. The second will be applicational. There is a sample answer with the list of questions. Turn them in to the web classroom at the beginning of the following class period. (20 hours) C. Integrative Paper Pick one integrative topic and write an assessment of the issues and a summary of your position on the topic. The methodology will follow what we do in the women in ministry segment of the class discussion. In the first half of the paper, you will describe the various positions held by Christians on this subject, and interact with these positions by discussing their strengths and weaknesses. In the second half of the paper, you will summarize your personal position on this issue, developing the biblical reasons for coming to this conclusion. The paper will be about 8 pages, due July 28. (15 hours) D. Revising Your Doctrinal Statement As you worked through your theology courses, your theological understanding grew. Now it's time to look again at theology and bring coherence to it as a whole. We will do this by discussion of key questions in our class sessions. Bring your questions and your Bibles to class. We will wrestle and review together. The only outside preparation necessary will be done as you rework your doctrinal statement.

3 An important part of preparation for ministry is the written and oral expression of your personal doctrinal commitment. We will review the sections of the standard doctrinal statement. Prior to each discussion take some time to review your theology class notes and Erickson to refresh your memory of the issues and points where you have questions for clarification. As we work through each head of theology in class discussion, you will rewrite the personal doctrinal statement you did in your sequence theology classes. In your teams, you will partner with members of your team to help each other do an excellent job of formulating your statement. I suggest doing it section by section as we work through the course. You will share each section with the other members of the work team. As you receive them, read them carefully, writing suggestions in the margins. Then return them to the author in a timely way. Each member of the team will read the statements of the other members, giving feedback while learning from the work of team members. Prior to the oral examination, you will do a final edit of your statement and provide a copy for the other members of your team. (10 hours) E. Oral Examination In the finals week of class the other members of your team will question you on your philosophy of ministry and personal doctrinal statement. The examination will be akin to an ordination exam. You must pass this exam to complete the class (5 hours) Final Course Evaluation (15 min.) Before the end of the last Friday of the semester, you need to log onto the learning center and complete the final course evaluation. By federal law, we now need to ensure that students participate in classes for the full length of the class. So failure to complete the final course evaluation on time will result in a grade penalty and may impact your financial aid eligibility. Required Assignments Points Estimated Time to Complete Enroll in the on-line classroom and read the syllabus Reading hours Integration Work Sheets hours Integrative Paper hours Doctrinal Statement 50 5 hours Final Course Evaluation Totals hrs. FINAL GRADE To get credit for the class, you must earn a pass on your written doctrinal statement and your oral doctrinal examination. The letter grade will be determined on the basis of your class participation, the integration questions, and your doctrinal statement. A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D

4 100% 98% 94% 92% 90% 87% 85% 83% 80% 78% 76% 73% COURSE POLICIES Attendance and Late Assignments: Students are expected to attend all class meetings. Students who miss class are responsible for missed work. Absences and tardiness may impact a student s grade. Students who anticipate an absence should discuss it in advance with the instructor. Students who miss more than 20% of the seat time for the class will not pass the course, without a request for and the completion of additional assignments. Assignments submitted after the due date and time will result in a reduction of the student s letter grade for that assignment. Copyright Violation and Plagiarism: Research in secondary sources for the written project is permitted and welcomed. However, any appropriation of either ideas or wording taken from other sources, whether print or electronic, must be properly footnoted. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism which can result in substantial grade reduction or failure. Any unauthorized copying or use of copyrighted materials, including downloaded files of various kinds, can result in criminal charges and fines. For a fuller explanation of these issues or WS's copyright policy, see the Copyright Issues and Cheating" section of the Student Handbook: Incompletes/Extensions: The final deadline for submitting all course work is the last day of the semester as noted in the Academic Calendar and in the class schedule. In the case of serious illness, family emergency, or similar extenuating circumstances, the student may request an extension. A 1-3 week extension is typical in all except the most extreme cases, and some penalty for late work may apply. Under no circumstances will the student be given more than 5 weeks to complete all required coursework except by petition and approval of the Administrative Committee. (Extensions longer than 5 weeks are rare and should only be requested under extreme circumstances.) If students face a personal emergency that requires requesting an extension going beyond the end of the semester, it may affect their ability to receive financial aid in the next semester, and they may face the possibility that their next semester s course registrations will be cancelled. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for assistance. Audit/Enrichment Students: Enrichment students are encouraged, but not obligated, to participate in assignments and class discussions. Professors are not obligated to grade participation for these students, but may opt to do so depending on class size. Statement on WiFi Services: Our community at Western Seminary is defined by our membership in the body of Christ. As we share common resources, we wish to do so with respect and consideration for others. Our IT department has created a strong and secure wireless internet network at each of our campus locations to enhance the student learning environment. Some of the considerations in developing our wifi networks have included providing excellent security (better than you ll find at the local coffeeshop) and doing so within a budget that does not significantly impact tuition costs. Keeping costs low means that we don t have an endless supply of bandwidth. We ask that you use the wifi network for academic purposes and avoid downloading large files or streaming video. Please be mindful that your internet use (both in class and on campus) can distract others or prevent them from accessing resources they need for their studies. We appreciate your participation in promoting thoughtful, considerate internet use on campus. The Availability of Disability Services at Western Seminary: Western Seminary is committed to responding to the needs of students with disabilities as outlined in both the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of Western students are assisted individually as their needs dictate. It

5 is the responsibility of students with disabilities to identify themselves and the nature of the disability. Any student who has a disability should contact the seminary s Disability (Section 504) Coordinator, Ashley Mitchell, at / , ext Her office is at the Portland campus. Students at the northern California campuses may contact Director of Student Services San Jose or Director of Student Services Sacramento, or they may contact Ms Mitchell directly. Appropriate forms will be provided and must be submitted to the Disability Coordinator s office.

6 TENTATIVE CLASS OUTLINE CLASS DATE June 18 June 19 June 26 July 3 July 10 July 17 July 24 DISCUSSION TOPICS Revelation; God, Jesus Christ, Humanity; Hamartiology, Atonement Soteriology, Holy Spirit; Spirit & Ministry; Angels/Demons, Women in Leadership; Church, Ministry, Missional Ministry Two Views on Women in Ministry, Read the presentations by and the responses to Keener, Blomberg, and Schreiner; [first edition], 9-22, , ; [second edition], Pastoral life; Pastoral Identity, Conflict & Temptation; Repentance & Confession Worship; Ordinances (theology, baptism, Lord s Supper) Last things, Death & Funerals Oral Exam

7 WORK REPORT THS 508 Gerry Breshears, Instructor Summer, 2014 I completed reading Two Views on Women in Ministry pp., prior to July 3 Yes I did not read the following portion(s) on time but have completed it before the end of class. I did not complete reading the following portion: Name:

8 Integration Worksheets THS 508 Integrating Ministry & Theology Spring, 2014 These are some key questions relating to the class discussion. Following the class session, you will write out answers to the questions, thinking especially of the integrative issues involved. Your answers for each question will be a paragraph in length. Skip the obvious and emphasize the significant. Where there are more than three questions in a group, you only need answer three of them. Turn them in at the beginning of the following class period. You are encouraged to do this work in your team. Revelation: 1. Where do we hear the voice of God? Bible? Prophecy? Prayer? Inner Voice? 2. Does God reveal himself to everyone? What happens to people who don't hear the gospel? 3. How can you help people see that the Bible is the authoritative Word of God in an age that despises authority? (Assume but do not spend time on the theological appeal to Bible as inspired Scripture) God: 1. What is the essential nature of God? As an example, how do you define holiness? 2. How closely does God control the universe, especially moral creatures? 3. How does one believe in the biblical God in face of all the evil I see? 4. How do I find the will of God for my life? Worship 1. How does our theology proper help us in discerning the very nature of worship? 2. How do we determine what kind of worship practices are pleasing to God? Personal taste? Tradition? Scripture? Cultural contexts? 3. What are the necessary and optional elements in a worship service? How will you balance elements like singing, preaching, Lord s Supper, prayer, Bible reading, community sharing, etc.? Jesus Christ 1. How can we help people see the deity of Jesus in the gospel portraits when He is not omnipresent or glorious as YHWH is in the OT. In fact, He seems pretty normal most of the time. 2. Do we have to believe that Jesus is God incarnate vs. a prophet or wise teacher? How would you help people see what difference it makes? 3. How human is Jesus? Can we really be like Him? 4. What are two common misperceptions of Jesus? Why do people cling to them? Pastoral Identity 1. Where in Bible would you go to find the model of a contemporary pastor? 2. What are the common expectations of a pastor? of a pastor s family? Which are illegitimate? Why? 3. What kind of authority does a pastor possess? How should he express this authority? What is the difference between authority and authoritarian? 4. What responsibility does a pastor have before God for the people he shepherds and the choices they make (Heb. 13:17)? 5. To what extent should a pastor develop close, personal friendships with people in his congregation? Pastoral Life 1. What are the proper boundaries for a male/female relationship that is not defined by marriage?

9 To what extent should a pastor counsel a person of the opposite gender? 2. Working within your boundaries, how do you plan to make sure the opposite gender is properly shepherded? 3. To what extent should a pastor seek to alter his ministry style to suit the preferences of people in the congregation? 4. How available should a pastor be to the people in his congregation? Humanity: 1. How many parts are there to a human? What difference does it make? 2. How is our pastoral care of people determined by the conviction that they are image-bearers of God? 3. What leadership roles may women fill? Give your interpretations of Gal. 3:28 and 1 Tim. 2:12; 1 Cor. 14:34-35 Hamartiology 1. To what extent should you share your struggles with sin (past and present) with your congregation in personal conversations? In sermons? What are the implications? 2. Can sin be in the structures of societies and organizations? How should the church respond? 3. Are there degrees of sin? What difference does it make? 4. Could someone commit the unpardonable sin today? How would you work with someone who thought they had committed it? Repentance & Confession 1. What are confession & repentance? How do they relate to guilt & shame? Are they one time things or life long? 2. In ministering to people, what are some common misperceptions about sin? What would be two or three central texts that would begin to clarify one's view of hamartiolgy? 3. How do we communicate the concept of sin in contemporary culture that is largely biblically illiterate and rejects many moral absolutes? 4. What is the role of a priest (Jas. 5:16) in repentance & confession? Angels/demons 1. Are there personal guardian angels? 2. What would you do if someone told you they received a message from an angel? 3. What can demons do to believers today? What can/should we do to protect ourselves? 4. Are there demonized people today? How would you deal with one? Conflict & Temptation: 1. What are the basic steps to resolve conflict between people? 2. In leading a ministry, what do you believe will be the more prevalent sins you will face a. Within your own life as a minister? b. Within the lives of those you will shepherd? 3. What are the indications that you, as a pastor, are in need of external help in dealing with personal conflict and/or temptation? Atonement: 1. How do propitiation/substitution relate to other atonement themes like triumph, or example? 2. How do incarnation, life, cross, resurrection and exaltation relate in the work of Christ? 3. For whom did Christ die? 4. How does the death of Christ relate to physical or emotional healing?

10 Sacraments (Theology): 1. Explain your understanding of baptism in terms of Romans 6: Who are the proper subjects for baptism? What is your preferred mode? 3. What are the past, present and future aspects of the Lord's Supper? 4. How does the Lord's Supper relate to Passover? Baptism (Practice): 1. What process (if any) should come between conversion and baptism (Acts 2:38)? 2. How could a baptismal service be evangelistic? 3. How should we pastor young children who come to us seeking baptism? Is there a minimum age for baptism? 4. How will you handle people who come to your church who have been baptized as infants or by a mode other than your preferred one? How will you talk to them about it? Lord's Supper (Practice): 1. How does the Lord's Supper relate to the life of the church? 2. How frequently should we administer the Lord s Supper? 3. What is the proper administration of the Lord's Supper? To what extent should we make clear that this is a meal for Christians only? 4. What does Paul mean when he speaks about "examining oneself"? Holy Spirit: 1. Define the baptism in/with/by the Holy Spirit? How does "baptism" relate to "receive", "outpouring" and other metaphors of the Spirit's work? 2. What is the balance between inaugural and the ongoing work (baptism and filling in my view) of the Spirit in a believer? 3. What is the nature of the spirituals (1 Cor. 12:1ff)? Is there a difference between gifts and talents? 4. Do you believe the sign gifts are operative today? Spirit & Ministry 1. What are two or three key controversies related to the Holy Spirit in ministry today? How will you help your people process these issues? 2. Realistically, how do you see the Spirit in your life and ministry? 3. What does it mean for a Christian to live a Spirit empowered life? Soteriology 1. How do define "election?" How do you understand Ephesians 1:3ff in relation to 1 Peter 1:1ff? 2. How do you define and balance the doctrines of justification and regeneration? Give at least one consequence of a defective view of these two. 3. What is your model of sanctification (Keswick, holiness, reformed, new covenant, etc.)? Illustrate it by showing how you would deal with a sinful habit. Be sure to include the concept of "already/not yet" in this. 4. How will you deal with the Christian who has fallen away from faith? Missional Ministry 1. Why are so many churches seeing so few come to Christ? 2. How will your church balance "inside the building" vs. "outside the building" ministry (sometimes called attractional vs. missional)? 3. How does gospel centered transformation impact you and the members of your church? 4. How will you lead the church to more effectively reach lost people?

11 5. Should preaching usually/always include a specific proclamation of the gospel? An invitation? Church: 1. What is church? People? Program? Institution? Organization? Organism? 2. How will leadership of your church be organized? 3. What are the actual qualifications for leaders? Does divorce disqualify someone from leadership? 4. How important is church membership (Acts 2:42)? To what extent must members agree with the doctrinal position of the church? 5. What are legitimate expectations of members? Regular attenders? Ministry: 1. Summarize your approach to church discipline? Be sure to relate the procedures outlines by Jesus in Matt. 18:15-18 and to other patterns such as Gal. 6:1ff; 2 Thess. 3:6, 14-15; Tit. 3:10 2. How will you develop marriages? 3. Divorce is one of the most complex issues facing ministry. How will you a. deal with marriages moving to divorce? b. counsel someone with someone with an abusive spouse? c. counsel divorced persons seeking remarriage?

12 Last Things 1. What happens to someone when they die? 2. For what will believers be judged? How does that impact my life today? 3. How does your position on the kingdom of God impact your view of the church and government (political involvement)? 4. What is hell? Eternal conscious punishment of all who are not believers in Jesus or what? 5. Where do believers spend eternity? In heaven? On the new earth? To what extent will it resemble this present creation? Death & Funerals 1. How should the church handle burial or cremation of the body? 2. What is the purpose of a funeral? What are the key elements? 3. How will you conduct a funeral for an unbeliever? What role will the gospel play? THS 508 SYLLABUS -- PAGE SPRING, 2006

13 Sample answer Explain your understanding of baptism in terms of Romans 6:1-6. According to Rom. 6:1-6, baptism is identification with the death and resurrection with Christ. Just as Christ died and was buried, so we too were and baptism is symbolic of this. Yet that is of course not the end of the story as he came also to life and the beautiful promise is that we too, because we are connected to him, also will rise to life. This is the regenerate, Spirit empowered life of the believer joining the body of Christ. Therefore baptism is a representative act of our connection to Christ. This is also indicated in Gal. 3:27 in which we are baptized into Christ and put Christ on a clear identification with Christ. Also we are baptized into the body of Christ together as 1 Cor. 12:13 tell us so there is a corporate dimension as well. The Romans passage on baptism is significant then, because when you hear most people speak of baptism, it is usually in the context that baptism is to show visibly the change that has gone on internally and that it should be done corporately. While the former is true, the way these two seem to usually get combined is that we must be baptized in public as a proclamation of our faith. This is nice, but I do not think it is what Rom. 6 is getting at. I think fundamentally it is to display our identification with Christ in death and resurrection and perhaps we need to get back a bit to this emphasis rather than on the latter of a public spectacle. Again I am not saying this is bad, just perhaps too emphasized when in some situations it could be counterproductive. For example, in our ministry, we see Chinese scholars come to Christ who, if they had a public baptism, could face some unnecessary hardships when returning home, if other Chinese found out about it. This is not to say they are hiding their faith, for they go back to China and have significant ministries among their peers. THS 508 SYLLABUS -- PAGE SPRING, 2006